U.S. History Research Project
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Please select the above link - then post your project in the appropriate place.
Final Reminders...
- Make sure that your Research Question is PROMINTENTLY displayed within your final product.
- Due Date = Thursday 6/10/10. Be prepared to present on Thursday.
- Be sure to post your final product by selecting U.S. History Research Project and following the directions. This must be done by 11:00am on Thursday. The page will be locked at that point.
- Be sure to carefully review the appropriate rubric for your final product.
- Make sure that MLA-citations and format is followed. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Your last PowerPoint slide should be yoru bibliography page. You may also submit a hard copy of the bibliography with the 1-2 page synposis if you wish.
- Do NOT use first person pronouns (I, me, my, we).
- In formal writing, "U.S." should not be used in place of "United States" unless you're using it as an "adjective" (i.e. "U.S. military", "U.S. government").
- Make sure that you have tested your PowertPoint or video on a school computer PRIOR to presenting. (Posting your video to YouTube is the best/simplest way to ensure that you won't have problem when presenting. It is also simple to then embed the video into our wiki.)



For Clarification #11. The 1-2 page synopsis that is due for ALL PowerPoints, Wikis, Videos... This 1-2 page synopsis must be a miniature version of your entire project. That means that the 1-2 page synopsis should follow the organization/outline of your larger product - and have ALL of same required elements (just in abbreviated form):
1. Introduction
2. Factual Overview/Summary/Explanation of Topic
3. Argument Area #1
4. Argument Area #2
5. Argument Area #3
6. Etc.
7. Conclusion
The level of detail/development, etc. will be considerably reduced (compared to your final product), but ALL of the above elements must be present in the 1-2 page synopsis.

For Clarification #2
For ALL PowerPoints, Wikis, Videos...I must have a written copy of any/all factual details/explanations for which you'd like to receive credit on the final grading rubric.- For example, if you're giving a PowerPoint Presentation and a slide only has a few key terms on it, you'll need to use the "notes" section below that slide (or have a separate set of outline notes) so that I have proof of the level and quality of your research and can award as many earned points as possible.



For those of you creating a Wiki for your product...
1. See me for help on creating your Wiki page. It's simple/easy to do, but easier to show than explain.
2. http://1930ssoapoperas.wikispaces.com/is an example of a Wiki that could serve as a model for your work. You should also discuss with me your layout/organization plans for your Wiki!

https://nhsprojectpathfinders.wikispaces.com/U.+S.+History+Final+ProjectAbove is link to the NHS Library pathfinder for the Research Project

U.S. Research Assignment.doc
Research Assignment Proposal.doc
Research Intro, Overview.doc = Due on Monday (5/24). Preferably typed. One per pair/group. MUST reflect substantial effort and progress in your research. You MUST have a clear, strong thesis statement - and clear/distinct sections of your argument. Make sure that your work on this step (20 points) reflects substantial effort, thought, and progress in your research process. Feel free to email me at bhartley@newington-schools.org or through the Wiki for any specific questions about your topic, etc.

Below are the rubrics for the final Research Product (Paper or Presentation). Please review the appropriate rubric carefully.
Research Paper Rubric.doc
Research Presentation Rubric.doc

Sample Research Questions: Below are a variety of different types of research questions. Hopefully, these samples give you some ideas about how to construct/word a research question that works for your topic. What is most important is that your question allows you to offer a thoughtful, clear, specific, well-organized response.

Sample Questions:

  1. What impact did the Cuban Missile Crisis have on U.S.-Soviet Relations?
  2. What contributions did the Vanderbilt family make to American life/culture?
  3. How did the Utopian Societies of the Antebellum Period compare to the Hippie Communes of the 1960s?
  4. Compare/Contrast the Beats of the 1950s to the Hippies of the 1960s.
  5. How did women’s fashion during the Roaring Twenties reflect the social changes/trends of the age?
  6. What factors led to the “ant-immigration” resentment that targeted the eastern and southern Europeans during the late 19th/early 20th centuries?
  7. How did the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 impact American society?
  8. How did the popular music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan reflect the social trends/patterns/changes of the 1960s?
  9. In what ways did Elvis Presley represent a challenge to the status quo in 1950s American society?
  10. What factors of colonial America led to the outbreak of hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials?
  11. How did the Black Sox scandal of 1919 reflect and impact America in the 1920s?
  12. What factors led to the "anti-immigration" resentment that targeted eastern European countries during the late 19th/early 20th centuries?

Sample Thesis: The hysteria that consumed Salem Village resulted from the intense Puritan religion, the political situation of Salem Village, the effects of past European witch hunts, and the later (and most importantly) Salem Village social factors.
Organization:
  1. Introduction
  2. Factual Overview/Summary of the Salem Witch Trials
  3. Argument – Factor #1: intense Puritan religion
  4. Argument – Factor #2: political situation of Salem Village
  5. Argument – Factor #3: effects of past European witch hunts
  6. Argument – Factor #4 (Most important): Salem Village social factors
  7. Conclusion
Please note the definition of "satire":
- the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc. (www.dictionary.com)


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